The Senate on Thursday amended the Federal Polytechnic Act to empower federal polytechnics to award Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech. Hons.) degrees in science, engineering and technology-related programmes.
The modification adopted the Senate’s choice to rescind its earlier place on the Act, which restricted the {qualifications} federal polytechnics might award to the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND).
The new provision permits federal polytechnics to award bachelor’s degrees to holders of the ND, HND or Postgraduate Diploma, topic to accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and different related regulatory our bodies.
The choice adopted a movement moved by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), throughout Thursday’s plenary.
Mr Bamidele stated sure provisions of sections 2, 8 and 31 of the Act required additional legislative scrutiny and modification to present administrative readability and set up a complete authorized framework.
He urged the Senate to recommit the Act to the Committee of the Whole for additional consideration and modification.
Provisions of the modification
The modification introduces a brand new subsection, Section 2(1)(c), empowering federal polytechnics to award Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech. Hons.) degrees in science, engineering and expertise programmes to holders of the ND, HND or Postgraduate Diploma.
“Award the Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech. Hons.) degree in Science, Engineering and Technology programmes to holders of the National Diploma (ND), Higher National Diploma (HND) or Postgraduate Diploma, subject to accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and relevant regulatory bodies,” the part states.
The provision makes the award of the degrees topic to accreditation by the NUC and different related regulatory our bodies.
The modification additionally revises Section 8, which offers for the appointment and tenure of rectors in federal polytechnics.
Under the proposed provision, the polytechnic’s governing council shall appoint a rector for an preliminary time period of 5 years, with eligibility for a second and last time period of 4 years.
In addition, the modification revises Section 31 to redefine a minister as an officer accountable for training.
Debate
When the modification was recommitted to the Committee of the Whole for consideration, no senator opposed the proposed adjustments.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, then put the amended provisions to a voice vote, and most senators voted in favour.
The BSC/HND Dichotomy
The disparity between holders of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degrees from universities and Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) from polytechnics has been controversial in Nigeria’s training system, notably in employment, remuneration and profession development.
Although each {qualifications} are obtained from tertiary establishments, HND holders have traditionally confronted restrictions in some private and non-private sector institutions, together with variations in recruitment grades, promotion prospects and eligibility for sure positions. The disparity has persevered regardless of successive authorities insurance policies geared toward addressing it.
In the federal civil service, a March 2018 round from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation allowed HND holders to enter the service at Salary Grade Level 08. However, serving officers with HND {qualifications} should meet further circumstances below relevant schemes of service and public service guidelines to progress past Grade Level 14 or convert to the officer cadre.
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The distinction has additionally generated issues about equity and equal alternatives for graduates with totally different {qualifications}. In 2023, the House of Representatives raised issues about alleged disparities within the promotion of HND and diploma holders within the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, urging related authorities to adjust to current directives on the difficulty.
Successive administrations and the National Assembly have made efforts to deal with the issue by coverage adjustments and legislative proposals. However, the continued debate over recruitment, promotion, and profession development means that coverage pronouncements alone could not have absolutely resolved issues in regards to the remedy of HND holders.
Whether the modification will considerably scale back discrimination in opposition to polytechnic graduates will rely partly on how the brand new degrees are recognised by employers and whether or not public service recruitment guidelines and schemes of service are reviewed to guarantee honest remedy.
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